Ojukwu to be buried in marble mausoleum

One of the features of the last minute preparations for the burial of the Ezeigbo Gburugburu and Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, is the construction of a marble-coated mausoleum, which has been designated as the final resting place for the late Igbo leader.

 The edifice, has an aluminium roof and a prominent stained glass design.
 From the front, flowers have been planted to beautify the aisle leading to the crypt, while the sides are equipped with two windows each.
 Work on Ojukwu’s final resting place, which began about seven weeks ago, is almost completed and ready for decoration by the family and the burial committee.

 The mausoleum, which is about three feet away from the main family house of the Igbo leader, will measure about six feet deep and eight feet across.
Sunday Sun reports that this may not leave the visitor or tourist much space to have a clearer view of the mausoleum as the use of space is being maximized by the family.

 According to the burial subcommittee chairman on Works and All Progressives Grand Alliance national chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, who spoke to Sunday Sun from London yesterday, the mausoleum will be ready tomorrow, Monday.

 In his words: I am sure that by Monday, all the finishing touches on the tomb would have been taken care of, and will be ready for the interment. The place will be coated with marble, while memorable pictures of the Ikemba will be displayed inside its walls, especially, his war pictures.
 “You know that Ojukwu had very exciting photographs at the Ahiara declaration, so, such features will be selected. Also, the casket will be covered by sand; because we all came from dust and to dust we shall return. I assure you that this will not remove his consciousness from people, especially those who hold him dear”, he concluded.
 Umeh, who is presently in the UK to escort the body of the late warlord home, however maintained that the viewing arrangement of the body, will be left for the family and equally assured that air conditioned tents and canopies are being provided for guests during the burial.

 According to Emeka Ojukwu jnr., his father’s body will be interred at about 5pm on Friday evening of 2nd of March after a requiem High Mass in Latin that will be celebrated by some Catholic Bishops in his country home, Nnewi.
 Emeka Jnr, who earlier took Sunday Sun around the compound, revealed the family’s decision towards the construction of a mausoleum, saying it was a unanimous agreement among members of the extended family.
 According to him, “this is the site Ikemba will be buried. We have started work already on the first site you saw. He will be buried inside the structure; the family has come to that decision. To do that, we have been working together as a family and with the state government to achieve that. The design has also been completed.”

 Describing how the edifice will finally look like, Ojukwu’s son revealed that even though the structure is not a large one, for want of space, it will still harbour enough paraphernalia of the late warlord for visitors and tourists.
 According to the family, President Goodluck Jonathan has promised them one of the most memorable burials ever given to a Nigerian.